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Patented July 29, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

, 2,604,727 SPRING MOTOR. ACTUATED TOY VEHICLE Arthur W. Swenson,Rockton; Ill, I Application February 5, 1947, Serial No. 726,635 10Claims. (01. 46-103) This invention relates to a wheeled toy driven by aspring motor and adapted to be steered along a supporting surfacethrough the mediu of a flexible cord.

One object is to provide a wheeled toy of the above character in whichthe spring motor is wound up or stressed in response to successiveupward pulls on a cord connected to the toy.

A more detailed object is to provide a wheeled toy having a pull cordconnected thereto and driven by a spring motor which may be wound up byapplying to the cord a pull of lesser magnitude than the gravitationalforce acting on the toy.

Another object is to provide a toy of the above character in which thepull cord for winding the spring motor is also utilized to steer the toyalong a support surface.

A further object is to provide for steering of the toy by lateral motionof a single cord extending upwardly from the toy.

The invention also resides in the novel structural arrangement utilizedin carrying out the foregoing objects simply and cheaply.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description taken in connection with the accom-'panying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of theimproved toy illustrating its manner of use.

Fig. 2 is a rear 'elevational view of the toy chassis, the enclosingcasing being shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the chassis. v h Fig. 4 is a section takenalong the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views taken respectively alongthe lines 55 of Fig. 4 and 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the steering and windingmechanism.

The toy. shown in the drawings to illustrate the present inventioncomprises a generally rectangular chassis frame Iii supported by tworear wheels I l and a front steerable wheel I2 and enclosed in a casing13 which is supported by the base M of the frame and contoured asdesired to represent an animal or the like. The steering wheel 52 isjournaled on the laterally extending lower end of an upright shaft i5swiveled in vertically spaced arms l6 and ll of a bracket [8 which issecured to the front wall of the chassis. A collar 13 on the shaft bearsagainst the lower bracketarm It to locate the shaft vertically whilepermitting free swivelingof the steering wheel.

Therear wheels II. are fasten opposite ends of an axle 2G journaled'inopposite sides 2| of the chassis frame and carrying a pinion 22 whichisdriven from a shaft 23 through speed increasing gearing 24 mounted onone frame plate 21 and including a terminal gear 25. The latter is faston one end of the'shaft '23..which is journaled at opposite ends intheframe plates '2l' and carries at its opposite end a loose gear 26; vAtorsion spring 2'! encircles the shaft 23 and is connected at oppositeends to the'gears 25, 26 to form a spring motor by which the vehicle ispropelled. A plate-like pawl 28 is pivoted at 28 -on the frame and isurged into engagement with the teeth of the gear 26' so as to permitclockwise (see Fig. a) turning of this gear to wind up the spring 21 butpreventing reverse turning 'of the ear.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the spring motor iswound up by energy derived from successive upward pulls on aflexibl'e'element or cord 29 such as a length of string connected atits-lower end to the vehicle and exteneling upwardly through a laterallyelongated hole 3!] in the top of the casing 13. The lower end portion ofthe. cord indicated at 29 is wound around a drum in the form of a shaft3| having end trunnions journaled in the frame plates 21, the end of thecord being attached at- 32 to the center of the winding drum. Therotary'rnotion of the drum resulting from unwinding of the cord by anupward pull is transmitted to the ear 36 of the spring motor through atorque amplifying connection including a pinion 33 fast on one end ofthe drum BI and meshing, with a gear 34} which is looseon anintermediate crossshaft 35.

A double pawl 36 pivoted at 3.7 on they gear 34 cooperates with a pinion39 fixed to the shaft 35 to provide a one-way or over-running driveconnection between the gear 34 and the gear 26. which meshes with thepinion 39. Thus, the rotation of the, drum 3| caused by unwindingthestring 29, is transmitted to the spring motor: gear 26 as indicated bythe arrows in Fig.6. One or the other end of the pawl, 36 is alwayseffective irrespective of, theflposition ofthe pawl pivot 31 about theaxis ofjthe'gear 39.; As the gear 34 turns reversely, the pawl 36overrides the pinion 39 while thepinion 39 and the gear 26 are heldstationary by the pawl 23 thereby retaining the energy previouslyimparted to .the motor spring 21.

Constantly acting means is provided for the.- drum 3.! in. a directionto wind' up the string to the right of the vehicle.

3 29 on the drum. This means comprises a torsion spring 40 considerablyweaker than the motor spring 21 preferably encircling the shaft with oneend fastened to the frame at 4! and the other end secured at 42 to thegear 34. The spring is thus wound up simultaneously with the motorspring during each upward pull on the cord 29 and the energy stored inthe spring 40 acts, when the cord is released, to reverse the rotationof the loose gear 34 and the drum to rewind the cord back onto the drum.Thus, as

the cord is pulled upwardly and then released successively, the springmotor is wound up step by step.

The strength of the two springs 21. and 40 and the ratios of the speedreduction gearing between the drum 3| and the spring 40 and between theshaft 35 and the spring motor are correlated with each other and thetotal weight of the vehicle in a manner such that the springs will beovercome and wound up in response to an upward pull on the cord 29 ofsubstantially lesser magnitude than the weight of the vehicle. Thus, thevehicle is held against the supporting surface under suificientgravitational force to provide proper traction for the drive wheels H.As a result of alternately pulling upwardly on the cord 29 and thenreleasing the same repeatedly, energy may be imparted to the springmotor at a rate suflicient to cause the vehicle to be propelledcontinuously.

The invention also contemplates using the manually operated pull cord 29to perform the additional function of steering the vehicle as the latteradvances. To this end, the cord is engaged by a member mounted on theframe for movement laterally of the vehicle by a corresponding lateralmovement of the cord. Herein, the motion transmitting member takes theform of a lever 44 fulcrumed intermediate its ends on an upright pivot45 secured to an upwardly and rearwardly inclined extension 46 of thebracket arm H. The cord 29 extends through a hole 41 in the rear end ofthe lever. Thus, this end of the lever is swung to the right of thevehicle as shown in Fig. 3. Such lateral swinging of the lever to eitherside of the centered position shown in Fig. 2, is limited by lugs 48laterally spaced across the rear end of the extension 46.

The lateral motions of the lever 44 are utilized .to turn the vehiclewheel I2 and thereby steer the vehicle. Preferably, this is accomplishedthrough a motion reversing connection so that the vehicle will turn inthe same direction in which the users hand 49 is moved to change thecourse of the vehicle. Herein, this connection comprises a gear segment50 formed on the forward end of the lever and meshing with a pinion 5|fast on the upper end of the shaft l5.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the steering wheel l2 will be turned to turnthe vehicle to the right when the taut portion of the cord 29 is swungThe turned position of the steering wheel will be retained, as by slightfriction, when the pull cord is slack and being wound back onto the drum3|.

In operation, the toy with the. spring motor unwound is placed on asuitable supporting surface.- The cord 29is pulled upwardly and releasedsuccessively -unti1 suflicient energy has been imparted to. the spring21 to initiate advance of the vehicle. The latter starts forwardly'in adirection determined by the position of the order to continue the motionof the vehicle, the course of which may be changed as desired byshifting the cord laterally in a corresponding direction. Thus, byproper manipulation of the cord, the motion of the vehicle may becontinued indefinitely along any desired path, and this without touchingthe vehicle or stopping to rewind the motor. It will be observed thatthe cord simulates a leash attached to the collar of a dog and theoperation of the toy is much like that of leading a dog around a givenpath.

I claim as my invention:

1. A vehicle toy comprising a frame, wheels supporting one end of saidframe, a spring motor on said frame for driving at least one of saidwheels, a vertical shaft journaled in said frame, means of supportingthe other end of said frame including a steering wheel having anoperative connection with said shaft and turned back and forth byoscillation of the shaft, a lever pivoted on said frame intermediate itsends to swing laterally of the vehicle about an axis spaced from saidshaft, a pinion and gear segment connection between said shaft and oneend of said lever, a guide on the other end of the lever, a second shaftjournaled on said frame and urged in one direction of rotation, meansproviding a one way connection between said second shaft and said motorand operable to wind up the latter during rotation of the second shaftin the 0P- posite direction, and a cord wound around said second shaftand extending upwardly through said guide whereby the spring of saidmotor will be wound by pulling on said cord and the vehicle will besteered by lateral movement of the cord.

2. A vehicle toy comprising a frame, wheels supporting one end of saidframe, a spring motor on said frame for driving at least one of saidWheels, means supporting the other end of said frame including asteering wheel, a support for said steering wheel mounted on said frameto swivel about a vertical axis and steer the vehicle, a lever pivotedintermediate its ends on said frame to swing laterally of the vehicle,means connecting one end of said lever to said wheel support to swivelthe latter in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of thelever, a shaft journaled on said frame and urged in one direction ofrotation, means providing a one way connection between said shaft andsaid motor and operable to wind up the latter during rotation of theshaft in one direction, and a cord wound around said shaft and extendingthrough a guide on the end portion of said lever remote from saidconnecting means.

3. A vehicle toy comprising a frame, wheels supporting one end of saidframe, a spring motor on said frame for driving at least one of saidwheels, a vertical shaft journaled in said frame, means supporting theother end of said frame including a steering wheel turned back and forthby oscillation of said shaft, a lever pivoted on said frame to swinglaterally of the vehicle and connected to said shaft to oscillate thelatter as the lever is swung back and forth, a horizontal shaftjournaled on said frame and urged in one direction of rotation, meansproviding a one way connection between said second shaft and said motorand operable to wind up the latter durin rotation of the shaft in onedirection, and a cord wound around said second shaft and extendingthrough a guide on said lever spaced from the pivot thereof.

4. A vehicle toy comprising a frame, Wheels supporting said frameincluding a steerable wheel, a spring motor on said frame connected toone of said wheels for driving the same to move the vehicle along asupporting surface, a rotary member on said frame, a cord having one endportion wound onto said member, means providing a driving connectionbetween said member and said spring motor operable to wind up the latterin response to successive upward pulls on said cord, an elementengageable with said cord and mounted on said frame for movementlaterally of the vehicle by corresponding lateral movement of the cord,and means actuated by said element for swiveling said steering wheel.

5. A vehicle toy comprising a frame, Wheels supporting said frameincluding a steerable wheel and a support therefor mounted on said frameto swivel about an upright axis, a spring motor on said frame fordriving one of said supporting wheels, a rotary shaft on said frame, acord having one end portion wound onto said shaft, means providing adriving connection between said shaft and said spring motor operable towind up the latter in response to successive upward pulls on said cord,an element engageable with said cord and mounted on said fram to movelaterally of the vehicle by corresponding lateral movement of said cord,and a motion reversing connection between said element and said steeringwheel support.

6. A vehicle toy comprising a frame, wheels supporting one end of saidframe, a spring motor on said frame for driving at least one of saidwheels, means supporting the other end of said frame including a wheeladapted to be swiveled back and forth to steer the vehicle, a horizontalshaft j-ournaled on said frame and urged in one direction of rotation,means providing a one way connection between said shaft and said springmotor and operable to wind up the latter during rotation of the shaft inthe opposite direction, a cord wound around said shaft for turning thelatter when the cord is pulled upwardly, and means actuated by lateralmovement of the cord to swivel said steering wheel.

7. A vehicle toy comprising a frame, wheels supporting said frameincluding a steerable wheel, a spring motor for driving the vehicle, acord connected to said frame, means responsive to successive upwardpulls on said cord to wind up the spring of said motor, and meansresponsive to movement of said cord laterally of the vehicle when thecord is taut to actuate said steerable wheel and change the course oftravel of the vehicle, said last mentioned means including a motionreversing mechanism for causing the vehicle to be turned in thedirection of lateral movement of the cord.

'8. A vehicle t-oy comprising a frame, wheels supporting said frameincluding a steerable wheel, a spring motor for driving the vehicle, acord connected to said frame, means responsive to successive upwardpulls on said cord to wind up the spring of said motor, and meansresponsive to movement of said cord laterally of the vehicle when thecord is taut to actuate said steerable wheel and change the course oftravel of the vehicle.

9. A toy comprising a wheeled vehicle, a motor for propelling thevehicle along a supporting surface including energy-storing means, meansfor steering said vehicle, a pull-cord connected to and normallyretracted into the vehicle but extensible in response to an upward pullof lesser magnitude than the weight of the vehicle, means actuated inresponse to successive pulls on said cord to energize saidenergy-storing means, and means operable by movement of said cordlaterally of said vehicle to actuate said steering means and therebychange the direction of advance of the vehicle by said motor.

10. A toy vehicle comprising a body, a motor on said body for propellingthe vehicle including energy-storing means, a pull cord connected to andnormally retracted into said body but extensible therefrom in responseto an upward pull of lesser magnitude than the weight of said vehicle,means actuated in response to successive pulls on said cord to energizesaid energy-storing means, wheels supporting said body for movementalong a supporting surface including a Wheel swiveled on the body toswing about a vertical axis, and an operative connection between saidswiveled wheel and said cord and operable automatically in response toinclination of said cord laterally of the body and away from thevertical while being pulled upwardly, the direction of such swiveling ofthe wheel turning the body in a direction corresponding to the directionof lateral movement of the cord.

ARTHUR W. SWENSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 368,499 Teichmann Aug. 16, 1887389,325 Seery Sept. 11, 1888 1,739,614 Schliederer Dec. 1'7, 19291,887,356 Langbein Nov. 8, 1932 2,161,971 Muller June 13, 1939 2,167,245Lohr 'et al. July 25, 1939 2,242,724 Kniesner May 20, 1941 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 227,103 Great Britain Dec. 23, 1924 165,966Great Britain July 11, 1921

